MC baseball finale a wash out

After suffering through four rainouts in the Region B baseball tournament, Madison County seemed to finally get baseball weather for the state tournament last week. When Madison Coach Tom Butterworth’s squad rolled into Warsaw June 2, the skies were clear and the temperature was in the 70s. But two and a half hours later, Mother Nature turned on Big Blue, first zapping the Mountaineers season toward a premature end with a fierce, lightning bolt-filled display, then, as if for good measure, releasing a thorough drenching.

As Rappahannock High School had batted in the bottom of the fifth, lightning began streaking across the sky. All play was halted.

For the next two-plus hours, the area was blasted by constant lightning streaks. But no rain fell.

The game figured to resume with the Raiders batting in the bottom of the fifth and a 4-0 lead.

However, it was not meant to be for the Mountaineers. The lightning stopped and the umpires signaled the resumption of the game. The players had no sooner stepped on the field when the rains came. And came and came.

The officials declared the field unplayable and the contest was ruled as a four-and-a-half inning victory for Rappahannock. Officially, the game was a 3-0 win for the Raiders. That was the score after Madison batted in the top of the fifth.

“We can’t end the season like this,” said senior Jacob Houser. “We can finish the game tomorrow.” However, Virginia High School League, or VHSL, rules are clear — the results stood.

As far as the game action went, Rappahannock struck first with a run in the second off Madison starter Kyle Louk. With two outs, Garrett Withers drew a walk. He stole second and advanced to third when MCHS misplayed the throw down. Joey Gordon plated Withers with a single to grab the 1-0 lead.

Madison went hitless in the first three innings against the Raiders ace, Tyler Roberts. The Mountaineer defense thwarted a scoring threat in the third when Andrew Davis was thrown out at home on a nice Shifflette-Tucker-Warren relay. Offensively, the Mountaineers seemed to be figuring out Roberts in the fourth as Evan Tucker and Dylan Shifflette got two out hits. Unfortunately, Madison was unable to scratch out a run.

Jesse Schools led off the Rappahannock half of the fourth with a triple. He then scored on a single to center. Two batters later, “Rapp” had a 3-0 lead. Louk was forced to leave the game with arm trouble. Dustin Kirby entered the game in relief of Louk and held the Raiders without further damage.

In the Madison half of the fifth, Casey Campbell slapped a two-out hit to center. That turned out to be the last hit for the Mountaineers in the 2009 season. Though disappointed in the unlikely ending to their late-surging 9-11 season, this crop of Mountaineers returned Madison County baseball to the hunt for a state title. That pursuit will be without five seniors.

Here is a brief snapshot of each Mountaineer baseball senior:

J.J. Adams (OF) — Will attend Virginia Wesleyan in the fall on a ROTC scholarship.

Jacob Houser (1B/DH) — Will attend James Madison University in the fall. A second team All District designated hitter.

Kyle Louk (P/OF) —  Will attend Virginia Tech in the fall. A second team All District outfielder and pitcher.

Matt Racer (3B/P) — Will attend Ferrum College in the fall. A first team All District third baseman.

Evan Tucker (SS) — Will attend the University of Mary Washington in the fall. A first team All District shortstop.